Passenger Trains > Today's Delay on Crescent #20

Train left Meridian 15 min LT and Tuscaloosa 48 min LT. Not sure what happened closer to Meridian but as he got closer to Tuscaloosa the DS held him about ten minutes so that #37 (which I believe is a local freight) could finish its work at Moundville.
If this train is getting stabbed every day by locals, that's not good. I know this was a random listening event, but do know the train loses 20-60 min (sometimes more) almost every day between Meridian and Tuscaloosa.
Andy

Does Autorouter simply do first come - first serve ?

Yes, 37 is the local from Norris yrd south.

In the days before Amtrak took over the Southern Crescent, there was a rule to clear the railroad of "Everything" 45 min before 1 or 2 was due. One dispatcher told me that he got 30 days for running a light engine across the diamond at Anniston and another crew said they spent time on the street for swinging out on the mainline to switch to another track in the yard at Bremen. Neither one of these delayed the Crescent. The rule changed to 30 min clearing after Amtrak took over the Crescent and had since disappeared.

Amtrak applies a similar rule against NJ Transit on the NEC. I've been on NJT 3722 often enough as it is held for late running Acela 2154.

Amtrak has no room to complain. It does the same thing as NS when it owns the track.

Posted from Android

Amtrak has EVERY reason to complain. It is illegal to delay the passenger trains for the freight trains. CN, NS & CSX have descended into crap.

MEKoch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Amtrak has EVERY reason to complain. It is
> illegal to delay the passenger trains for the
> freight trains. CN, NS & CSX have descended into
> crap.


No, it’s not illegal. If anything, it’s a breach of contract, for which the freights pay penalties to Amtrak.

twropr Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Train left Meridian 15 min LT and Tuscaloosa 48
> min LT. Not sure what happened closer to Meridian
> but as he got closer to Tuscaloosa the DS held him
> about ten minutes so that #37 (which I believe is
> a local freight) could finish its work at
> Moundville.

One of the most difficult things a dispatcher has to learn is
how to work the locals. The crew tells you that they will need
xx" to work some industries. If something doesn't work out other
trains are delayed. Quite often there is no place to get the local
in the clear where they are working. Until the DS gets to really
know the crews and how much time they take it is a shot in the dark.
Hold the local too long somewhere and delay to it and other trains
begin to snowball.

altoonafn Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> MEKoch Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Amtrak has EVERY reason to complain. It is
> > illegal to delay the passenger trains for the
> > freight trains. CN, NS & CSX have descended
> into
> > crap.
>
>
> No, it’s not illegal. If anything, it’s a
> breach of contract, for which the freights pay
> penalties to Amtrak.

I’m pretty sure Federal law still requires railroads to prioritize Amtrak over freight. Rule making to crate enforceable standards has been muddied by court rulings that Amtrak can’t be both the rule maker and beneficiary.

Dave

When Amtrak and the Freight Railroads had that original contract Amtrak always got on them when it came to poor OTP!

49 U.S. Code § 24308(c) currently reads "Preference Over Freight Transportation. Except in an emergency, intercity and commuter rail passenger transportation provided by or for Amtrak has preference over freight transportation in using a rail line, junction, or crossing unless the Board orders otherwise under this subsection. A rail carrier affected by this subsection may apply to the Board for relief. If the Board, after an opportunity for a hearing under section 553 of title 5, decides that preference for intercity and commuter rail passenger transportation materially will lessen the quality of freight transportation provided to shippers, the Board shall establish the rights of the carrier and Amtrak on reasonable terms."

There is more detail at https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/49/24308 but it's fair to say that Amtrak's "preference over freight transportation" is not absolute. The word "preference" itself is soft.

Maybe NJ Transit should take Amtrak to court for unreasonably delaying NJT trains. I'd say 3722 was delayed at least once weekly due to Amtrak's failure to run its Acela 2154 on time.

Just let the local cross over, if Amtrak is more than 10 minutes away.

(The operating plan requires trains originating at Jersey Avenue (mp 34) to cross tracks 4, 3, 2 in order to reach track 1 for its next station stop up line in New Brunswick. If 2154 is on time, NJT 3722 comes out behind him, crosses over, and is followed by an NJT from Trenton on track 4.

If 2154 is not on time, the Trenton train holds on track 1 west of COUNTY for the local to come out behind 2154. Two westbounds hold east of COUNTY. Lots of rippling delays.)